The long-rumored Home Hub tablet device seems to contain an assortment of features from across Apple's ecosystem, and a code sleuth has found a connection between it and iPhone Duo.
Apple's Home Hub is expected to be revealed on October 13 as a tablet device that is carried around the home. Rumors suggest it will display content based on who is nearby or interacting with the device, but very little has been shared otherwise.
Code sleuth and leaker pdfu shared that setting up the Home Hub will include creating a Photo Face. The Photo Face is one that will also be used in the new iPhone Duo StandBy feature.
The Photo Face makes sense for the Home Hub, as it will display something when not in use. The code doesn't provide a name beyond a placeholder of "Apple device."
Setting up Apple's upcoming Home device includes a new step: creating a Photo Face.It's the same Photo Face coming to StandBy on iPhone Duo. That might explain why Apple hasn't officially made StandBy available in the simulator.Photo Face requires iCloud Photos. During setup, pic.twitter.com/Zh3cvAcjPx
Users will be able to select from shuffling photos, showing Memory slideshows, or pulling content from shared albums. Then users will get the chance to select photos manually or pick from specific collections or simply use featured photos chosen by the device.
The screenshots are tall and skinny, suggesting a modal shown over content, so there is nothing to derive from the images themselves. However, the previewed images are square, which fits in with previous rumors that Apple's Home Hub tablet could have a square display.
The leaker shared on Monday that code hinted at Apple offering more StandBy faces and configurations, but they were hidden in the device simulator. Based on the latest Photo Face discovery, it seems Apple could be keeping some features hidden until the Home Hub is revealed.
New OS updates mean more code to delve through, and pdfu has shared several discoveries, including how Tap to Pay on iPhone looks on iPhone Duo. It can be done on either display.
iPhone Duo supports Tap to Pay on both displays, featuring an adaptive interface. pic.twitter.com/EmtQWCXe8c
They've also discovered that the Snoopy screen saver on Apple TV will gain audio at some point, though the files aren't available to examine just yet.
These discoveries are likely tied to Apple not always being perfect in its cleanup of pre-release files in beta software. pdfu has been reliable and accurate in finding and sharing discoveries, like finding that Touch ID would be used in the iPhone Duo.
